Woman indicted for assault with vehicle

PALMER -- A grand jury has indicted a Wasilla woman on five counts after she allegedly hit a pedestrian with her car and fled.

The indictments were returned Wednesday against Tanya M. Crocker, 43. She is charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, driving under the influence and resisting or interfering with arrest.

Crocker is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Palmer Superior Court.

Witnesses to the Aug. 4 incident told police Crocker came into the Wasilla Bar and was intoxicated. A bar employee denied service to Crocker, and offered her coffee and a taxi to take her home, according to charging documents.

However, Crocker became angry and left the bar, followed by the employee, documents said. Crocker got into her car in the parking lot and drove at the employee, knocking her to the ground, according to an affidavit filed by Wasilla police officer Joel Smith.

The employee told police Crocker backed up and drove toward her again, veering off at the last second. Smith and another officer contacted Crocker at home and arrested her for felony assault, the affidavit said.

She tried to break away while being ushered to a patrol car, causing Smith to force Crocker to the ground and subdue her with a control hold, court documents said.

Crocker originally told police the bar employee had run in front of her car and she couldn't avoid hitting her. She later said she was sorry for injuring the woman, Smith said.

Second-degree assault is a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.